Joseph

About Joseph

Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and the firstborn son of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife. He was born after Rachel’s long period of barrenness, and his name means “he adds” or “may he add,” reflecting Rachel’s prayer for another son. Joseph was greatly favored by his father, who gave him an ornate coat of many colors, stirring intense jealousy among his ten older brothers.

This favoritism was compounded when Joseph, at seventeen years old, had two prophetic dreams indicating that his family would one day bow down to him. When he shared these dreams with his brothers, their hatred deepened. One day, Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers who were tending flocks near Shechem. When they saw him coming, they plotted to kill him, but Reuben convinced them to throw him into a cistern instead, intending to rescue him later.

While Reuben was away, the other brothers sold Joseph to Midianite merchants for twenty pieces of silver. The merchants took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. The brothers dipped Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood and showed it to Jacob, who believed Joseph had been killed by a wild animal and mourned for him inconsolably.

In Egypt, Joseph prospered under God’s blessing, and Potiphar placed him in charge of his entire household. However, Potiphar’s wife repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph, and when he refused, she falsely accused him of assault. Joseph was thrown into prison, but even there the Lord was with him, granting him favor with the prison warden.

While in prison, Joseph interpreted dreams for Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, accurately predicting their futures. Two years later, when Pharaoh had troubling dreams that none of his wise men could interpret, the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and, giving credit to God, explained that the dreams foretold seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine.

Impressed by Joseph’s wisdom, Pharaoh appointed him second-in-command over all Egypt, placing him in charge of storing grain during the years of plenty to prepare for the famine. Joseph married Asenath, the daughter of an Egyptian priest, and they had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

When the famine spread to Canaan, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized his brothers, though they did not recognize him. Through a series of tests, Joseph discerned whether they had changed. Finally, overcome with emotion, he revealed his identity and forgave them, acknowledging that God had sent him ahead to preserve life.

Joseph brought his entire family, including his father Jacob, to live in Egypt in the land of Goshen. After Jacob’s death, Joseph reassured his brothers, saying, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Joseph lived to be 110 years old. Before his death, he made his family swear that when God brought them back to the promised land, they would carry his bones with them. Joseph’s life stands as a powerful testimony to God’s sovereignty, the necessity of forgiveness, and the way God can use suffering and injustice to accomplish His purposes.